Birds diurnal

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

With its shimmering purple plumage and an elegantly long tail, the Meves's Starling is a jewel of the Southern African woodlands. Watch as this social bird dances across the ground, its feathers catching the light in a spectacular display of iridescence.

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Quick Identification

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Size

30-36 cm (12-14 inches) including the long tail; weight 55-80g (1.9-2.8 oz)

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Colors

Iridescent blue-green crown and mantle with shimmering purple-bronze wings and tail. Dark facial mask and dark eyes.

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Key Features

Exceptionally long and graduated tail
Glossy metallic purple and blue-green plumage
Dark bill and legs
Frequent ground-foraging behavior

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:30-10:00 AM, 3:30-6:00 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, focusing on termites, beetles, and ants, but will supplement their diet with wild fruits, berries, and occasionally nectar.

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Habitat Mopane and Acacia woodlands, riverine forests, and floodplains, typically near a permanent water source.

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Behavior

Meves’s Starlings are highly social birds, usually seen in small family groups or larger flocks of up to 50 individuals outside of the breeding season. They are distinctive for their noisy, chattering calls and their preference for foraging on the ground, where they hop and run with agility in search of insects. They are often found near water sources and are known to follow large mammals like elephants or buffalo to catch insects disturbed by their movement.

In backyard settings or near human habitations within their range, they can become quite bold. While not as urbanized as some other starling species, they quickly learn to associate bird baths and certain fruiting trees with reliable resources. Their flight is direct and strong, though their long tails can make them look slightly ungainly during windy conditions.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of the Meves's Starling, camera placement is everything. Since these birds spend a significant amount of time foraging on the ground, set your AI camera at a low height—roughly 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) off the ground—angled slightly upward. This 'worm's-eye view' not only captures their impressive tail length but also helps the lens catch the light reflecting off their metallic feathers at the optimal angle.

Water is the most effective lure for this species. A ground-level bird bath or a shallow pond feature will consistently draw them in, especially during the dry winter months. If you are using a feeder, focus on high-protein offerings like suet or mealworms rather than standard birdseed, as these starlings are primarily insect-eaters. Place your camera near the edge of a wooded area or under a large tree, as they prefer to have a quick escape route into the canopy if they feel threatened by predators.

Because Meves's Starlings are fast-moving when they forage, use a high shutter speed or a 'burst' mode if your camera settings allow. For video, aim for at least 60 FPS to capture the fluid motion of their long tail feathers. Early morning is the best time for activity; they are often among the first birds to arrive at water holes as the sun rises. During the heat of the day, they may retreat to the shade, so ensuring your camera is triggered by motion in a shaded, high-traffic foraging area is more effective than placing it in full sun.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Meves's Starling.

Burchell's Starling

Much larger and bulkier with a shorter, squared-off tail compared to the long, graduated tail of the Meves's.

Cape Glossy Starling

Smaller with a much shorter tail and striking yellow-orange eyes, whereas Meves's has dark eyes.

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lacks the long tail and features distinct blue 'ear' patches and a more uniform blue-green color.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meves's Starlings are most active during the early morning hours and late afternoon. They are early risers, often seen foraging for insects as soon as the sun comes up, and they congregate near water sources during the golden hour before dusk.

The best way to attract Meves's Starlings is by providing a clean, ground-level bird bath or a shallow water feature. In terms of food, they are attracted to mealworms, suet, and fruiting indigenous trees rather than traditional seed mixes.

Their diet is mostly made up of insects, including termites, ants, and beetles found on the ground. They also enjoy wild fruits, berries, and will occasionally visit flowers for nectar.

They are common in suburban gardens located within their specific range—primarily the northern parts of Southern Africa (like the Limpopo Valley). They require areas with established trees and are less likely to be found in highly paved urban centers.

While both are large and glossy, the Meves's Starling has a much longer, more graduated tail and a slimmer profile compared to the heavier-set Burchell's Starling. The Meves's also lacks the distinct eye color contrast seen in some other glossy starling species.

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